I suppose it is not enough for conservatives, big C, or little c, to deny science. They listen to a man [Trump]who suggests the nuking of hurricanes would stop their destructive winds, says exercise hurts the body like draining a battery, and he tweeted in 2012 that asbestos would have saved The World Trade Center, “If we didn't remove incredibly powerful fire retardant asbestos & replace it with junk that doesn’t work, the World Trade Center would never have burned down,”wrote the future President. Now that he has gotten the Republican party to willingly define themselves as knuckle-dragging-anti-science-Neanderthals, he brazenly attacks their religiosity and has banished them to obedient caves.
In the past, when asked if he ever sought God’s forgiveness, Trump told the Family Leadership Summit in July of 2015, he’s never asked God for forgiveness, “…I drink my little wine -- which is about the only wine I drink -- and have my little cracker, I guess that is a form of asking for forgiveness, and I do that as often as possible because I feel cleansed.” He followed that by separating children from their parents crossing the border—in some cases forever. His infamous walk to St. John’s Episcopal church hoisting a Bible above his head, much like Charlton Heston at an NRA rally displaying a prop rifle and declaring “from my cold dead hands.” Mr. Trump turned to his assistant a few weeks ago and in the same manner brandished his prop Bible.
That brings me to Mr. Trump’s appearance last night in Phoenix, Arizona, and the final nail in the conservative cross. I grew up with the teachings of the local black Baptist church. Anyone familiar with this or the practice of evangelicals knows about call and response. The preacher utters a dramatic declaration and it is affirmed by the congregation. Trump dragged out his blatant and purposely used racial slur of “kung-flu” virus again last night before a group of young Republicans who are part of a group called Turning Point Action. The rally was held in Dream City Church, who as part of their mission statement affirms, “everyone is welcome.”
The church pastor just days before claimed an air filtration system had been installed that would rid 99% of the coronavirus. I would like to think that the pastor was mistaken and not lying. The system, in question, has been shown to reduce the transmission of some coronaviruses but not COVID-19. So in a church that professes to be inclusive and emphasizeswe “gather as God’s people,”Pastor Luke and his wife Angel (of course)Barnett need to atone for why they allowed this language, why they knowingly endangered lives, and exactly which people are welcome?
The corruption of the Republican Party by Mr. Trump is now complete. The elimination of any significant roles for people of color. Justice has become their personal fraternity paddle for any who oppose, our allies have loss total trust, intelligence is a joke, and we have become the Dodo bird and not the eagle of democracy we once exemplified all over the world. Will that eagle fly again in November?
Vote in 2020 for Change.